Adhesion Strategy for Cross-Linking AgNWs/MXene Janus Membrane: Stretchable and Self-Healing Electromagnetic Shielding and Infrared Stealth Capabilities

Small. 2024 Dec 15:e2408950. doi: 10.1002/smll.202408950. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Developing lightweight polymer shielding membranes with additional physicochemical properties is of great significance for addressing the complex contemporary security demands. However, precise structural design at the molecular level remains a challenge. Herein, a unique Janus composite membrane is assembled from conductive AgNWs/MXene 1D/2D network and polyurethane elastomer (MPHEA), displaying combined superior electromagnetic shielding effectiveness (EMSE) of up to 80 dB and remarkable infrared stealth capability at a wide temperature range of room temperature to 50 °C. Moreover, the endowed chemical crosslinking in the membrane resulted in the exceptional mechanical strength, self-healing, and superior adhesion. The maintained electromagnetic shielding (over 20 dB) even under a strain of 40% and the recovered shielding efficiency of 90% after mechanical damage and self-healing are observed, which is attributed to the synergistic 3D polymer elastic and 1D/2D conductive network in the multi-dimensional crosslinked MPHEA@AgNWs/MXene composite membrane. This work has represented an excellent micro-nano structure design strategy on multifunctional electromagnetic wave manager in complex application scenario.

Keywords: MXene‐based conductive network; electromagnetic shielding membrane; infrared stealth membrane; self‐healing; stretchable elastomer.